Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with backbiting and jealousy.
The first challenge was finding enough birds to participate in the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, therefore the pairs had to be well-matched.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw which was declared extinct in 2000 following decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small number of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue friends, and compare their experience to the journey of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor who lost his family and kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong kinship to him and perceive their lives as identical to his.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how this species was able to survive for this long. It also helped them make a more precise estimate of the historic population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather important details about the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. They also monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaws, which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has helped scientists understand how these birds could be returned to the wild. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. This has also encouraged zoos to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This working group is an illustration of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government Zoo representatives as well as international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes developing a plan to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. It has also established a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people around the globe thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long-distance road to returning these birds. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga which is an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is among of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with only few glimpses of the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.
To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird as well as officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws into their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They usually nest in hollows or tree holes and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend as much as 1/3 of their time in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team in order to help to track Spix's macaws. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if a Spix's Macaw is identified. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the family Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000. No additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to bring back the critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction programme is underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information on food sources, nesting and areas to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, including information about the patterns of movement and adaptations to drought. It has also provided an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, seeds and nuts of numerous plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They can also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a brief continuous grating sound like a flute note. They are well-known for flying fast and high when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including flight patterns and bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them so popular pets and a target for illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, and all of them poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix, which is the descendant of just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are in a breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to repatriate the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's Macaws that weren't part of the breeding program.
In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is essential to choose the correct birds before release. killer deal should be reproductive and paired with siblings or close relatives.
The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These birds will assist the macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also ensure safety through numbers.